Westport superintendent's leave raises many questions

WESTPORT — School Committee members faced a barrage of questions Wednesday — some from within their ranks — about how the district will move forward during Superintendent Carlos Colley's leave of absence, which one member called a "disaster."

WESTPORT — School Committee members faced a barrage of questions Wednesday — some from within their ranks — about how the district will move forward during Superintendent Carlos Colley's leave of absence, which one member called a "disaster."

Colley, who started in the district in 2009 and whose contract doesn't expire until 2015, was asked to take a paid leave of absence through June after a closed-door meeting of the School Committee last week.

He has said he does not intend to return to the district and attributed the leave to ongoing disagreements with the School Committee. He was not at the meeting.

School Committee members have declined to comment, citing personnel privacy laws.

"There are a lot of people who want answers as to what is going on in our school district to guide our children (and) to guide our tax dollars," parent Christine Silvia, 38, said. "We deserve to have respect and we deserve to be told the truth."

Colley's leave of absence occurs in the middle of the school year, as the budget process is getting underway and after a period of turnover in key positions, such as technology director.

"This is a disaster that just occurred ... and you are right to ask questions and be upset because this should not have happened," School Committee member Carolina Africano said.

At Wednesday's meeting, which drew about 25 people to Westport High School, the five-member committee in a divided voice vote formally named Assistant Superintendent Ann Dargon the acting head of the district. Dargon's responsibilities now include overseeing curriculum, business and human resources.

"I have huge concerns about the direction of the district with one less person doing two jobs," Africano said. "This is irresponsible. Completely irresponsible."

During discussion of Dargon's new role, some members of the board and the public said they were concerned that some School Committee members had private conversations about how the district would move forward. The state's open meeting law bars private deliberations by members on School Committee topics.

"I feel like it was decided regardless of what my vote is tonight," School Committee member Michelle Duarte said. Duarte said after the meeting that the board did not discuss options for leadership of the district in Colley's absence as a body.

Chairman Antonio Viveiros said no votes or private conversations took place.

School Committee member Michael P. Sullivan said Dargon's acting title would simply "acknowledge" school policy. Page 172 of the Policy Book posted on the district's website says that responsibility and the authority to act for the district falls to the assistant superintendent "if the superintendent is unable to be reached."

"We're not making an appointment," Viveiros said.

"Then what are we contract negotiating for?" Duarte asked, referring to a private session scheduled for later in the meeting to discuss Dargon's contract.

Selectman Craig Dutra, who is married to Africano, said some of the members were citing policy to "(skirt) the issue."

"I may not be able to prove violation of the open meeting law, but I believe it happened," he said after the meeting.